Friday, July 18, 2014

Montreal Canadiens prospect Tim Bozon is returning to competitive hockey more than four months after spending four weeks in a Saskatchewan hospital while battling a severe form of meningitis.

A 2012 third-round pick (No. 64) of the Canadiens, Bozon will play for France at an Under-23 tournament in Ostrava, Czech Republic that begins July 31.

Bozon, 20, was playing for the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League when he was diagnosed with Neisseria Meningitis on March 1 after a 4-2 win against the Saskatoon Blades. He was taken to Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, and spent part of his time there in a medically-induced coma to reduce swelling around his brain.

Since being released from the hospital March 28 Bozon has been working his way back to health. He has been working with Canadiens training staff and began skating June 5. He recently sent a message on Twitter expressing his excitement at playing again.

Bozon, the son of former NHL player Philippe Bozon, was born in St. Louis but grew up playing hockey in Switzerland before coming to North America. He also has French citizenship through his father, who was born in France.

Joining France in the tournament are Dukla Jihlava, a top-division Czech club, plus club teams from Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

In 203 WHL games with the Ice and Kamloops Blazers, Bozon has 105 goals and 231 points.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

The Buffalo Sabres today announced that the team has signed forward Sam Reinhart to a three-year, entry level contract.

The second overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Reinhart (6’1”, 190 lbs., 11/6/95) became the Sabres' highest draft pick since the team selected Pierre Turgeon first overall in 1987. He joins the Sabres organization after playing four years in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the Kootenay Ice.

In addition to serving as Kootenay’s captain in 2013-14, he was named the WHL 2013-14 Player of the Year and Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year.

“We are very excited to have Sam under contract,” said Sabres General Manager Tim Murray. “We look forward to watching him develop and become an important part of our organization in the future.”

In 2013-14, Reinhart led Kootenay with 105 points (36+69) in 60 games, tying for fourth overall in the WHL. He also led his team with 23 points (6+17) in 13 playoff games, advancing three rounds before Kootenay fell to the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Conference Championship.

Through his four seasons with Kootenay and the WHL, the North Vancouver, British Columbia native has recorded 254 points (101+153) in 203 games. Additionally, he captained Canada’s gold medal-winning teams at both the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial and the 2013 Under-18 World Championship.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Cranbrook, BC – Jeff Chynoweth, General Manager of the Kootenay ICE Hockey Club announced today the Club has selected 18-year-old Russian Forward Alexander Chirva (1st Round, 33rd Overall) in today’s 23rd annual CHL Import Draft.
“We like the potential Alex brings to our Hockey Club. He played last year in Moose Jaw so he is accustomed to the North American culture as well as speaking and understanding the English language. With a years-experience in the WHL under belt we feel Alex will fit in nicely with our 1996 forward group.,” continued Chynoweth.
ALEXANDER CHIRVA
Birthdate: March 25, 1996 Country: Russia
Position: Forward Shoots: Right
Height: 6-0 Weight: 185 lbs.
NHL Draft: Eligible 2015
2013-2014 Team: Moose Jaw Warriors – WHL
GP: 58 G: 2 A: 4 TP: 6 PIM: 15